@deceitanon 143
Null stays silent for a while again.
...
"I suppose it would be rather fascinating... I do believe most people only see a few dead bodies in their life time though, and usually it tends to be people they know."
Null would be referring to funerals...
"... I actually have not seen a dead body. I do not particularly wish to either."
--
They look at Remy when he frowns and pause again.
"Are you okay?"
They don't actually understand why he's frowning--
“Hm I guess it’s not for everyone, oh well! I don’t mind the uncanny ability things! Plus I’m literally intrusive thoughts! I practically live in uncanny valley”
{Remus jumps over and on to the couch laying himself along Null’s lap}
——
“I… feel like you avoided my question but I trust you to tell me fully what’s going on when you are able too- or I’m looking to deep into this”
"I suppose that would make sense... I am glad I... Do not make you uneasy then."
They tense up for a moment when Remus lays himself along Null's lap.
"What are you doing?" They ask more literally out of confusion.
--
Null falls silent at what Remy says and looks at the floor for a while.
"... I have mixed... Feelings about giving it away. I do want it, but I only wanted it because I wanted it to be a specific thing. I have no way of making it what I want with it in my possession..."
...
"I did not see in a reason in keeping it when it would only frustrate me. It can't be what I want."
“I’m laying down! On your lap silly!”
{Remus giggles, clearly comfortable}
——
“…I see, thank you regardless, I’m sorry it had turned out this way”
{Remy sighs, he hopes this doesn’t happen often, he brought Null here to be welcomed and happy.. not to give up more}
Null stares at Remus for a moment before responding.
"I can see that... Why though?"
They hesitate, but move one of their hands to Remus's hair.
--
"It is okay..."
They take a few minutes to say more.
"I do not want you to feel sorry about it. I still made the choice, and I did consider both options... It may be conflicting, but I still chose what I preferred."
They offer their other hand to Remy.
"I'm sure there is more I could see now that this anyway."
There's a small smile heard in their voice... They have a strange odd optimism to them almost. It's hard to pinpoint, but, to be fair, most of them is hard to pinpoint.
{Remus immediately melts into the touch, a deep broken purr escapes him shamelessly, yes he is a big strong man, but he definitely will show if he likes something or not}
“Mmm because it’s you!”
{Remus seems like he finds comfort even in the uncanny or discomfort, which is why he loves hanging upside down and sitting in weird positions}
——
{Remy smiles and takes a deep breath before taking their hand}
“Thank you Null”
{Remy pats a spot next to him for Eddie as well}
"Of course."
...
Eddie smiles softly and walks over to sit with Remy, immediately leaning up against him and purring.
----
Null pauses briefly before playing with Remus's hair.
"I find it odd for someone to like my company, even if I can understand why you specifically are able to."
They stare at Remus. There's no visible indication, but it is clear they are deep in thought right now.
"..."
They fall silent after that.
{Remus stares up at Null, he tilts his head}
“Are they asleep? The whole tv head makes it hard to tell-“
{Remus says quietly}
Null's screen flickers in response before any voice actually comes from them.
...
"No... Not asleep... Thinking."
They stare at Remus more, and then look away at a wall.
"I think I may be confused is all."
Their hand is still in Remus's hair, their other hand now fidgeting with some of the ruffles on their dress.
"People are so express..."
They say with a flat tone... Their screen just a dull glow as usual...
"I am unsure how to mimic that." In reality they could only mimic it. They know that.
...
"Would there happen to be anything you wanted to show besides the basement?... I am curious, but I don't particularly know where to begin with that."
{Remus doesn’t stop purring, staying just as loud}
“Mmm I coulddd give you a house tour! This place is massive! Never boring”
"... That sounds nice. Thank you."
They pause for a moment before they shift how they're sitting to look more directly down at Remus.
"You are warm. You also don't feel sick when in contact with me."
They say matter of factly.
"... I would like to stay closer to you."
They don't quite have the words they mean, but they are trying to communicate they'd like to cuddle with Remus more. He's the only one who doesn't get sick with contact, and they really want that warmth and feel.
Remus would be the first who can interact with them like this.
{Remus stares for a moment, blinking slowly before smiling brightly}
{he sits up on Nulls lap so he can press himself against their body, letting Null feel his warmth}
“Cuddles, you want to cuddle instead?”
Null nods slowly and leans into Remus.
"Yes... I do want to see more, but this is nice right now."
Their rigid tv head rests on Remus's shoulder, the screen humming slightly, and they slowly wrap their arms around him to.
"Thank you Remus."
There is no heartbeat, or breathing, nothing indicating they are living. They feel cold, yet in a way that leaves no affect beyond a sensation.
There is just a steady hum of static from their screen, and even that isn't from electricity.
"Are you comfortable?" They ask, wondering if the feel of their body causes any discomfort when closer.
{Remus holds Null with a smile, he is still purr, his heart beats fast.. like it’s enough for two people}
“Mm mhm..”
{Remus buries his face into Nulls body happily}
“Thank you Null..”
Null relaxes fully in Remus's hold and plays with his hair.
"Mhm..."
They stay silent for a while before speaking softly.
"Your heartbeat is quiet fast... Have human's heartbeats doubled since I've last heard one, or are you different?"
They ask genuinely confused.
“‘M different, it was a side effect of the whole radiation thing, think my body just adapted in such a weird way, it’s very loud”
{Remus looks down at his chest.. he stares at it for.. a while, his eyes turning a pitch black, he is in a daze}
‘tear it out and give it to Null! Tear it out Remus- i bet it wants out! How fun would it be to see your own heart!’
{Remus hand slowly moved over his chest where his heart lays.. Eddie knows this look, Remus is about to do something stupid}
"That's interesting... I don't believe I've heard of that reaction to radiation... I wonder what else can happen with radiation."
They used to be a specialist in radiation... They've seen a lot of cases, and for this type of change is very strange to Null.
--
Eddie looks over at Remus, noticing that look. He moves over and gently takes his hand.
"Hey." He speaks softly and looks at Remus clearly. He knows what Remus was thinking.
"Do you need a distraction?"
He's thinking about how before he just talked until Remus fell asleep... He does remember distractions helping.
“…I’m… I want to rip it out- Yes…”
{Remus’ eyes grew less erratic when Eddie asked if Remus needs a distraction}
{He holds Eddie’s hands, while his others hold on to Null to keep the hands busy}
“…I.. used to be worse than this huh?”
{Remus sort of remembers how he used to be before the timey change Remy and Eddie did- some areas are still blurry}
Eddie gently rubs Remus's hand with his thumb and leans onto him.
"... Yes... You did, but it's okay."
He stays honest, but tries to be reassuring regardless of that truth.
"Do you want to listen to me talk, or do you want to do something more physical?" He asks with no innuendo.
"I would say cooking, but I don't know if you would want to be around cooking equipment right now?"
He wants to suggest cooking, but double checks before committing to that as a suggestion.
{Remus eyes darkens again at the thought of cooking equipment- his thoughts were practically given a writing prompt when Eddie suggests cooking.. he nods far too quickly in response, his breathing quickens and..}
{he bites Nulls shoulder, his teeth sharpened as he is panting}
{He quickly pulls away}
“Fuck! Sorry- sorry.. shit, I-i think it’s a burst of energy that triggered the thoughts”
{He still is intrusive thoughts.. but Remus is better than how he used to be- Remus can understand and recognize what caused the situation.. instead of just giggling it off}
Eddie immediately regrets bringing up the suggestion of cooking--
When Remus bites Null he'll feel some of the maggots pop and spew black goo onto his teeth. It tastes like old rotten fruit, strongly of it.
They don't actually react all too much, just look at where there would be a bite mark. Some of the maggots shift around the fill whatever small gaps there would be.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
Weirdly enough the room did nothing to stop it...? Usually it would have had some reaction to stopping harm, but not for Null?
Eddie stares between Remus and Null, talking to Remus first.
"E-everything is fine..." He only says once Null says they're okay. "Burst of energy... You can recognize what caused the thoughts though, that's good."
He offers to hold Remus while he thinks of something.
"What could be something to get energy out that isn't going to feed into the thoughts then?..."
He asks gently, and thinks of his own suggestion while waiting for Remus to respond. He does keep glancing over at Null to check on them, but they don't really change anything they were doing. They just sit there and observe Remus right now.
{Remus is immediately distracted by the taste, he click his tongue in his mouth before licking his lips.. of course he likes the flavor}
“I.. could..”
“I dunno really- maybe we could walk around? I follow.. maybe give you can give null a tour?”
Eddie looks at the way Remus licks his lips like that, getting curious as to what he was tasting... His tails flick a little with that curious feeling.
"I think that's a good idea... Just stay close by, love?"
He gets up with a deep breath and sigh to try and gather himself again, as he pauses for a moment.
"What did you taste...?" He feels like he may regret asking, but asks anyway.
--
Null sits there staring at the wall for a bit longer before they register the conversation and stand up as well.
“…I tasted Null- it was really good.. Taste like rotten Fruit”
{Remus looks away for a moment and sighs}
“I’ll keep close I promise”
Eddie shivers at the thought of the taste of rotten fruit and sighs.
"It's okay, and thank you..."
He walks closer to Remus and hugs him.
"I love you... Are you okay though?"
He wants to make Remus is okay... Part of him is worried about any self loathing, given Remus is more sanely aware. He's aware that with that in mind that Remus's past may not... Feel as great now.
He would know that feeling to an extent after all.
--
Null watches the two of them for a moment, looking away when Eddie says "I love you" to Remus.
They begin walking to the exit on their own instead of waiting at this point, though they don't exactly register why they want to.
Their movements are utterly silent.
{Remus nods slowly, he stares as Null walks away}
{His eyes grow a tired haze.. his thoughts are loud and mean}
“M’ Fine..”
“I love you too-“
Null is out of the basement and back at the bar, sitting on the bar counter waiting for the others.
They hum softly to themself and tap the counter.
--
Eddie looks up at Remus for a moment before letting go of the hug, and holding Remus's hand.
"Okay... I'll be right here..."
He starts heading out of the basement with Remus, and presumably Remy too.
{Virgil is tense when he sees Null while he was grabbing himself something to drink, nothing alcoholic of course.}
“Uh… hi?”
{He mutters quietly with his hands in his pockets, he’s not loud or immediately acceptance of Null like the other three, he’s quiet, grounded, and wary}
Null looks over at Virgil slowly, their screen more visible as they do. No face to read, body language is readable, but not in a way indicative of what it's supposed to mean. No breathing to hear, and their voice has that static feel.
"Hello. Who are you?"
They ask with a slight head tilt. They try to make their voice softer, though at most they sound quieter.
They're more used to responses like Virgil's to their presence, so they aren't bother by him becoming tense. They try their best to come off more calm...
"Do I make you uneasy?"
The flat static tone makes the question unsettling, but they mean the question at face value.
“Virgil.”
“And yes. But every new person makes me feel uneasy, nothing against you”
{Virgil mutters as he tilts his head, he’s been trying to give people a chance.. especially after forgiving Remus}
“Eddie mentioned a new person.. guessin you’re a new member here?”
“What’s… with the tv head?”
Null nods and shifts the way their sitting to face Virgil more easily.
"I see... I'm Null. Yes I... Suppose I would be."
They pause at the last question for a moment.
"Just my head... I have tried to make myself a human face before... But I believe an object tends to be... Less unsettling in the end. I settled on a tv, because I thought I might be able to project some sort of expression onto it."
They sigh and fidget with their gloves again.
"Best I could do was eyes, but they are not easy either. I still kept, because it still felt better than anything else I tried before."
They actually talk more about themself right now than they did with the others so far. They talked about their history, but not much of who they are now really.
There's the tiniest hint of happiness at being asked about their head. It's something they had worked out what they preferred with.
“Must have been tough, but it looks good though, making things the way you want them is f’ing hard.. it took me forever to make my own limbs and I’m still not satisfied” {Virgil is wearing long sleeve and pants so his limbs looks normal on the outside}
{Virgil walks behind the counter and grabs a soda}
“And you’re right, a tv is probably the least unsettling thing about you, don’t know what’s up, but you just… scream Nightmare”
{he opens it up as he rambles.. something he does when he is trying to process this weird emotion}
“Feels like I’ve seen you in a dream or something”
“Um.. no offense”
"You made your own limbs?"
They ask with a subtle hint of curiosity.
They pauses at the nightmare and dream comments...
"I don't take offense... Is there a way I can make you more comfortable? I'm the concept of liminal spaces and the uncanny valley feeling. My curse is that I can not make myself look human, and I give off an unsettling aura... Emotions are also not easy to express or understand for me."
"..."
"You probably have seen me in your dreams before."
...? They do not elaborate.
“….dont change yourself to make me comfortable. I’ll adjust.”
{Virgil sighs and takes off his jacket, showing his fucked up arm and his other prosthetic arm}
“My legs are both prosthetic as well”
{Virgil is most likely a frequent guest in Null’s space.. it’s not on purpose, his dreams just take him to any uncanny space constantly ever since he was a child, he’s changed a lot since he was a kid}
“You said you can’t make yourself look human.. half the people hear don’t look human either.. but how do you function? You obviously can express and comprehend things.. so you have some kind of brain- damn I sound like Logan”
{He groans as he fidgets with his jacket}
They look at his arms for a moment before speaking again.
"You seem resourceful to make those yourself... I like people who are resourceful."
They do stare at Virgil's face for a while before realizing something.
"Hm... Fascinating. Not many people see my space in their dreams frequently, but you've been there far more than anyone else... You've changed a lot since I've last actually seen you there though."
They say that completely casually.
...
"I do not fully understand how I work either."
Their screen's static increases slightly as they think about that.
"I do not mind the question... I am made of void maggots, that I do understand. I used to be human... I do not have any organs or a brain, just these maggots. I am not alive either. That part is harder to explain."
That is not a lie.
"I feel more like... A... Maybe just a soul? That doesn't feel quite right either though. It feels like I do not technically exist..."
They pick at their gloves more.
"Yes, I think... I think just a soul would be the best wording, even if it's more complex than that."
They would have no blatantly visible soul, but a very close look for someone that can see souls they'd see tiny fragments of a soul held together by the maggots.
“You… know me? You say that like you’ve known me from the past-“
{Virgil rubs his face with an anxious groan}
“You’re alive, you say you aren’t but you are.. What counts as being alive depends on who you ask.. if you ask me, you are”
“Eh but let’s not… get work up in semantics or whatever it’s called”
“…just a heads up, the people here are a lot. They come from a good place, but they want to help even if you dont know you need/want it. So… I guess if that.. becomes overwhelming or something, my room is down the hall, it’s black and purple, can’t miss it.”
{Virgil doesn’t know why he is offering.. he feels like he should know Null- maybe he meet them in a dream when he was a kid? He barely remembers anything from that time}
{he takes his can and sips.. he hears Eddie and Remus coming up, he salutes to Null lazily}
“Gonna take my leave.. can’t handle crowds right now”
“Nice to.. meet you Null… again”
{he says the last word very very quietly}
"Oh, yes, I do... I believe you've been visiting my space since you were little, I was rather surprised to see a little in there... I last saw you in your late teens, so you've changed a lot."
They listen silently to Virgil for the rest.
"I understand... And thank you, I will... I may be there often, if that is okay... I am already a bit overwhelmed, but I wish to put up with that for now."
They do get across they are certain in that choice.
"It was nice to meet you too... Take care Vil."
"Vil?" That nickname might sound familiar... Probably not one Virgil would remember.
----
Eddie helps Remus up from the ladder, they both get up just as Virgil is out of sight.
{Virgil feels… weird hearing that nickname, he goes to his room, shutting the door, he has a LOT of self digging to do now}
——
{Remus follows, sticking near Eddie}
——
{Remy tilts his head when he sees Null}
“You okay? Thought I heard you talkin to someone?”
Null looks over at Remy, pausing for a moment. They're voice goes back to more flat than they were talking with Virgil... Quieter too, though not in a volume sense.
"I believe I am okay... I was just talking to Virgil."
They get up and adjust their gloves.
"I believe Remus offered a tour?"
“You… and Virgil talked?”
{Remy seems surprised by this}
——-
{Remus nods} “well… Eddie is going to give a tour if that’s okay..? I- shouldn’t be talking right now”
"That is okay..." They do want to ask more, but respect Remus not wanting to talk. They can ask more later.
--
Null nods at Remy's question.
"We did. I haven't seen him in a very long time, so I'm glad he's doing better now--"
Eddie turns to Null rather quickly--
"Sorry, did you just say you've seen Virgil before?!"
Null tilts their head slightly in confusion.
"Yes."
{Remy looks even more surprised}
“Huh? How? From where? How long have you known him? Better now?”
{Remy didn’t know how to proceed with this information- Null and Virgil..}
Null pauses and falls silent for a moment--
"..."
...
"I am unsure how much he would want you to know... Um..."
...
"I won't elaborate on the better now part. I do not believe that is mine to say... Sometimes when people dream they will fall into my space for their dream. It's uncommon, but more uncommon for me to see the person there... Virgil was an extremely common visiter. And I saw him far more frequently."
...
"I do not believe anyone has been there even a quarter amount of the times Virgil has... I first saw him when he was little, and last saw him in his late teens... I will not say more than that."
They don't know what Virgil went through, but they do know some of his mental state back then. That they will leave out.
"Do believe it goes beyond nightmares for most people..."
“Huh? It goes beyond nightmares? I’m sorry I- just the dreamscape isn’t connected to where I met you- at least nothing I’ve felt before”
{Remy rubs his head}
"It's similar to how you glitched to get there, it's just... Far easier to happen during nightmares, usually when nightmares become too severe."
They pick at their gloves, knowing the implications that has for Virgil, but not wanting to lie or avoid the question.
"It's like the dreamscape glitches, and the person falls. The void maggots make voids, like the mindscapes which in a way holds dreamscapes.... It's like falling through layers."
...
"Dreamscape is in the mindscape, mindscape is in the person in the waking world, and my space is outside of that in a way that can simplified as below it. It's more complicated, but now isn't the time. So if a nightmare is bad enough, the person typically wakes up, but if it's past that threshold the dreamscape will "break" figuratively, and that can result in out of body experiences... If it is... Worse then the person practically falls through all layers in that state to where I am."
They pick at their gloves more and more as they speak.
"I'm sure you can see why it is so rare... Please don't ask directly about Vil, I doubt he'd appreciate being directly asked about it either."
Their tone has that rare human indication to it, this time it carries some sorrow.
{Remy pauses and frowns}
“… and you said you’ve.. known him since he was little- that’s..”
{Remy knows he shouldn’t ask more so he doesn’t}
“Does he remember you?”
Null shakes their head.
"..."
"I think he has a vague sense of remembering, but not forefront memories coming through."
They look at the ground and to the side now.
"... I-I'm overwhelmed--"
They rarely stutter, if they even had til now.
"I was before too, but I was going to put up with it."
They run one of their hands along their arm now, feeling the texture of the velvet glove.
"Sorry..."
“Oh- shit sorry babes.. if you need some space then take your time..”
{Remy looks over at Eddie with concern}
——-
{Virgil is still in his room, he sat at his desk, a hand in hair and a pencil in his mouth as he stares at the few very rough sketches of Null he made}
{How does he know them.. he groans and closes the small notebook, as he spins in his chair, he shakes his head and decides to work on something else}
Null nods silently, thinking for a bit.
She recalls what Virgil said earlier about getting overwhelmed...
She silently walks up the loft when Remy and Eddie look away long enough, not wanting questions or eyes on her.
She finds Virgil's room pretty easily, and quietly knock on the door.
----
Eddie looks over at Remy, not seeing Null leave.
"..." He is visibly concerned too, and even at a slight loss of words.
"Should... I ask Virgil...? M-maybe later if so..."
He knows Null just got here, and he knows Virgil struggles with new people in general. May be best to give space for now...
{Virgil slowly opens the door.. Null sees those shy and oh so forever tired eyes look up at them through his bangs}
“Hm..”
{he doesn’t say much, he knows why Null is here, he was surprised that it happened so fast, but he lets them in without a second thought}
“Bed is over there, dunno if you.. sleep or not.. but imma be working on a side project over there”
{Virgil murmurs before closing the door behind them, he wishes he remembers, but he has a small feeling he probably doesn’t want to know why he can’t}
—-
“….maybe- I just realized how little I know about Virgil’s past”
{Remy sighs}
Null nods and slowly walks in, looking around, before laying on the bed that she doesn't really fit in.
She stays silent for a while... Probably several minutes.
She mumbles something ever so quietly... Her voice-- it sounds clearly human right now, no uncanny feeling coming with it.
"What are you working on, Vil?"
She sounds kind of sad. It's a little clear she doesn't like silence right now though.
----
Eddie sigh and runs a head through his own hair.
"Shit-- I... Don't know much either... I don't think he's ever wanted to say much about it though? I don't press about it usually, and I especially don't press Virgil..."
There are people he will press a bit more to say something, like Volt, but he doesn't do that with Virgil. He knows Virgil wouldn't want to be pressured.
“Honestly, just something random… Remus wants me to make some lab equipment that can detect all forms of radiation.”
{Virgil murmurs as he works on the project}
“Dunno way exactly. I don’t really ask about Remus”
“..you… wanna talk about it? Your voice is different but I’ll drop it if you say No.”
“Oh and you’re supposed to lay the other way, by bed is really fucking wide.. but not long”
{he did always have a habit of sleeping in such weird ways}
——-
“I mean at least for me I never asked him-“
{Remy sighs}
“Maybe he likes it that way? Yknow leaving the past in the past?”
"I... Could help with that... I used to be a specialist in radiation. I was regarded as the best, that's why I was assigned to work at the same location as Remus."
She chuckles a little sadly at that... Her chuckle sounds so easily human now.
She changes how she's laying and curls up a bit more.
"Thank you..."
She pauses to think for a while on Virgil's question.
...
"... I... Would, but it depends on if you want to talk too."
It's a second before she elaborates.
"I was recalling how people even fall into my space... It's not exactly easy, you know? It's scary... It takes nightmares bad enough to cause someone to not only pass the safety of waking up, but also the safety of an out of body experience... You're nightmares were bad enough to break both those protective barriers. Frequently... It was a good thing when you stopped showing up in all honesty..."
...
"... I tend to forget most things, but I remember how scared you were. More so than anyone else I'd seen before... When you stopped showing up I was hoping you were better..."
The other answer would have been dead. She doesn't say that though.
"... I got a bit overwhelmed at remembering it, but I'm sure that's trivial to what even happen on your end."
"I'm just glad you're safe now..."
----
"... Maybe... We... I will ask later, maybe in a few days after Null getting here..."
“….”
{Virgil stopped working as his head looks at the work table}
“Um… Yeah it was- hell.. my body felt safer in the nightmares, I didn’t wake up when my body was giving signals.. which is how I showed up in your space. Even as a child”
“If.. I stopped showing up around the time I think I did”
“It.. wasn’t only because I got better- not at first, I was turned into a vampire- I rarely slept at all, and when I did I couldn’t dream”
“Then I met Logan and Patton, and my life got better, even more so after i met Eddie”
Null listens silently, and takes a moment before responding.
"... Eddie seems very loving... I saw how he was with Remus, and he's been towards me. He cares a lot... He seems... So trusting? Yet I can tell he still has his guard up around me. I think it's more subtle for him..."
She finds noticing those things easily.
"I haven't met Logan or Patton yet... I'm glad you found Eddie though."
She stares at the ceiling for a few minutes before saying more.
"Do you remember what caused those nightmares?... You'd never tell me... I know my space was so... Unsettling, and scary... Which is why it concerned me so heavily that you actually stayed near me. Sometimes you'd run, but a lot of the time you wouldn't."
She picks at her gloves again.
"I started calling you Vil after a while, it just stuck... I always wondered what was so terrifying that someone would... Feel safer with me."
That seems to be what bugs her the most. They had to have talked enough for Null to give a nickname, which would indicate that Virgil's nightmares were bad enough to not only make him end up there, but him actually feel safer there...
"You were so little, that was enough to scare the shit out of me... But you didn't run. That was even scarier..."
{Then the memories flood back, his breath hitches but he does his best to stay fucking calm}
“…they.. weren’t just nightmares, they were memories… couldn’t tell if I was awake or not- so.. when I saw you”
“I knew I was safe.. because I knew that they couldn’t get to me in there”
“Not with you”
“I.. wouldn’t remember your name.. yknow”
“I called you mom a bunch of times”
“You… were my protector, even if you couldn’t really protect me”
“But you did…”
Null nods slowly, listening carefully. She remembers being called that...
"I wished I could have done more... But back then my ability to teleport out wasn't very stable... Who were you so scared of, if you want to answer?"
She slowly moves to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Do you want to sit next to me?... I... Can hold you if that would help too?"
She asks softly, not pressing.
"I know I'm not quite the calming type, but I can try... I'd always try for you."
{Virgil nods shakily and slowly crawls into bed with Null}
“Everyone…”
“I was… scared of everyone”
“Was homeless at the age of 6…”
“At… at least your.. your place had walls despite the uncanny feeling”
Null pauses at that... Take a while to respond...
"I..."
She holds Virgil closer if he lets her.
"I'm so sorry... You... You were only six..."
She quickly summons something to cover the bottom of her screen, not wanting the iron rot to get on anything, especially Virgil.
"How did... How did you even end up in that situation... You said you were turned into a vampire as well..."
She already knew it was going to be bad... Still doesn't make hearing it easier.
“Didn’t have much of a choice… my parents couldn’t afford anything not with their addictions.. so we were on the streets.. they used me as their excuse to get by.. they said they loved me- but they never looked for at me like they did for their drugs..”
“That vampire stuff happened when I was in my early 20’s…”
{Virgil looks at Nulls Tv screen, he slowly reaches out to touch it}
“Mm I can.. fix”
“I-I… became.. really good at fixing and making things because of you yknow..”
Null leans her screen into Virgil's hand. There's a small hum, a mimic of electricity where there is none... She focuses on not making Virgil ill with her touch as well right now. There's a small waver on her screen at the mention of addiction.
"You deserved better... I suppose you have better now, but you shouldn't have had to go through that..."
... She should have been better when she was human...
"..."
"You did?... What about me made you do that, Vil?"
{Virgil slowly traces the screen}
“I.. well as a child.. I wanted a tv head like yours.. thought it was so cool once I got used to it”
“I also just thought… well maybe if I… ever needed to fix a tv, then I would know how to help the one person who… helped me”
“I know it’s stupid but it kept me going and alive.. I learned how to make myself prosthetics.. my knowledge got great and it became my passion”
"... You... Thought it was cool?"
The cover she put on stops the iron rot from spilling, but it can be smelled by now... She wishes her tears were just water... Anything else...
"It's not stupid... Anything that makes a person want to live is more than enough. I'm glad you had that, because I'm happy I get to see you again... You're alive. That's enough, to just exist. And if something makes it feel worth it? Then I think anyone should hold onto it."
The screen is so smooth, static dances on Virgil's fingers as he moves his hand along it.
"..."
She realizes something. That field...
"... I think it was worth it to help you..."
Her words feel out of context almost, and sad... A bit painful...
"What do you need right now, Vil?..."
She asks as she presses her screen against his hand a little more.
“What was worth it? Of course you helped me”
{Virgil doesn’t push, he asks but doesn’t dig any further than that question}
“What do I need right now? Fuck.. I don’t know but.. this is nice, you’re enough”
{Virgil feels her screen with his real but heavily scarred hand, his prosthetic one traces the rim of the tv.. Iron Rot concerns him a lot, but he will pocket that for later}
“I..I’m an inventor now.. I got hired/sponsored, and won a competition for a build I made that can help mobilize the paralyzed people, I’m also the concept of Self Preservation and Anxiety- but I’ve learned how to cope with it”
{Virgil slowly pulls away for a brief moment to grab a very colorful and bright book-} “Patton.. made this for me”
{He sits back down next to Null, it’s a Photo Scrap book.. Virgil hands it to Null}
Null thinks for a moment on the question... She decides to answer it another time, just hoping she doesn't forget. It's important, but she rather lighten the mood now.
She looks at his arm, and lifts one of her hands to trace the scars.
"That's amazing... I'm happy you were able to do that, Vil."
She looks at the book for a moment before opening it.
"Concept of anxiety and self preservation... I'm glad you've learned to cope with that well. I would imagine it wasn't easy to learn..."
She turns her focus back to the scrapbook.
“It… wasn’t easy at all”
{Virgil lets out a soft purr and watches Them trace his scars before showing them pictures, Polaroids from Patton of Virgil and of his friendship}
“Thought this was very corny.. but I like it- don’t tell Patton though”
{he chuckles softly}
Null pauses briefly at the purr and then moves her hand to Virgil's hair to play with it if he lets her.
"You purr..." She seems to think that...
She looks at the photos, a soft smile would be seen if she could form one.
"I like it too-- and I won't tell Patton, don't worry..."
She chuckles a little.
She stares at the book for a while, and then at Virgil.
"It's... Relieving to know you're safe now... I think I carried a bit of a constant worry in the back of my thoughts."
Not that she tends to recognize those things, but she sees it now that it's calmed down.
{Virgil immediately melts when his hair is played with}
“Fuck… that feels so good”
{He manages to purr out his words, his eyes fluttering close}
“I’m…. Glad you are here..”
‘I get to say thank you”
Null continues playing with Virgil's hair... She mimics a purring noise, though it is off... She likes the feeling she gets from 'purring' despite that though.
"I'm glad to be here too... I'm glad were both here."
She watches as Virgil closes his eyes and speaks softly.
"Are you tired?"
She asks as she shifts further into the bed, bringing Virgil with her if he had let her hold him earlier.
"I do not wish to keep you up..."
Their voice begins to slip back to how it was before they had came into here. The flat tone slowly returning, but not fully yet.
“Mm… mhm.. am now”
{Virgil lets them shift him with her onto the bed}
“Need to.. take off… legs and arm first”
Null stares at Virgil for a moment, her hand pauses for a split second, and her screen flickers a little.
"Would you wish for my help with that?"
Their tone returns to being flat and having a static hum...
“Mm yes yes please”
{Virgil is half asleep- he normal never trusts anyone to do this}
Null slowly gets up, and moves Virgil to be more comfortable.
They help get his prosthetics off, and then ask where to put them.
...
"Would you like me to stay?"
They ask after helping.
{Virgil shakily points to the closet with his only arm, there is a charging station there… he is immediately tense when he is vulnerable like this.. he has no legs.. and one fucked up arm, his breath hitches as he nods through his tears}
{Somethings never change}
Null puts them in the closet before getting back into the bed.
"It's okay... I'm here, Vil... Do you want me to hold you?"
They feel so much internally right now, but no part of their body lets them express it... Everything hurts right now, but there is no indication of that.
They just want to help Virgil right now.
“No!”
{His voice echos deepen with anxiety, Null knows that voice.. that scared child, flinching at how loud their own voice came out}
“No… no touch.. can’t- can’t move if I’m being hold-“
“Stay.. stay near”
Null doesn't flinch or startle... Or have any visible reaction...
"I will stay... It'll be okay."
They shift how they sit to give Virgil a bit more space as they sit against the wall near the bed.
"You're safe... I'll make sure, okay?" They always tried to.
They wish their voice could carry the kind softness as it did just minutes ago, but that dull flat tone is stuck with them again.
"Let me know if I can do anything else..."
They summon a plush of a bird... A Phoenix. They don't know why that felt right, and they don't understand how they made it... Without unease attached to it.
Something about Virgil makes them try harder to shake their curse.
"Would you like this?"
{Virgil looks at the plush, and immediately makes a small bat noise, he reaches for it with his good hand}
“You….you watch? I sleep?”
Null gently hands it to him. The plush is soft in just the way Virgil would like, somehow the texture being his favorite fabric too...
"Yes... I will watch. You rest."
They adjust their gloves as they turn to face Virgil a little more.
{Virgil nuzzles the fabric and purrs}
“Thanks… you”
{he whispers before going to sleep}
Null nods and silently watches Virgil as he sleeps.
In their own thoughts they make a silent promise to be here for Virgil. They couldn't before, not like this, and they wish for nothing more than to have that now.
They just want to help... And somehow that becomes possible for Virgil.
{Virgil sleeps for a few hours.. 6 hours later, a robot arm machine appears from the ceiling, it opens the closet door to grab Virgil’s prosthetics and move back to the bed- it pauses when it detects another foreign body, it whirls and clamps its prongs together in confusion}

Null stares at it in confusion, tilting their head a little.
"Hm?... Hello?"
They look down at Virgil, considering waking him up...
{The robot arm waves at Null, it beeps a few times}
“Good morning Unidentified.”
{The voice is smooth and cold, automated but handcrafted by Virgil}
{It grabs Virgil’s prosthetic arm and begins to attach it to Virgil while he’s asleep, he probably had made this robot so he doesn’t wake up without his limbs} 
Null stares at it and watches as it puts his limbs back on.
"Impressive... I wonder what else he has made..."
Null doesn't mind being called that either.
“Virgil has made many devices to help others and also himself”
{The robot answers as it attaches his legs with perfect precision}
"I see... I do believe I'd like to see more of what Virgil has done... I would like to know him better now that I can be here."
They fidget with the texture of their gloves.
"He has changed a lot... I am proud of him for getting here."
They say flatly, but they mean it with care.
{The arm pauses and its prongs open and close- its thinking?}
“You should ask when he wakes up in 25 mins and 13 seconds from now”
Null looks at the prongs again and pauses.
"Do you have thought?"
They do nod at the answer.
“Indeed I do, Virgil has helped my program to process and express emotion and thought”
{The arm tilts like a head tilt}
“Why do you ask?”
Null stares and thinks for a long while.
"I have not met a machine that could express independent thought. It is very fascinating to me... Would you be considered a true form of artificial intelligence then?"
Null says "true" to separate it from the current types of "ai."
"Do you have a name you would prefer?"
“I suppose I am, Virgil uploaded a simulated verison of human brain activity into a code..”
“Armando Is what Virgil calls me, and that is enough”

{It says as it finishes strapping on his prosthetics}
"That is... That's extremely impressive. It was good to meet you Armando..."
Null does catch the pun, though it is amusing, they do not laugh.
"Seems I have a lot to learn about Virgil now..."
“Do you have any questions I can assist you on?”
{The hand tilts like a head tilting again}
Null thinks for a few minutes.
"Maybe a bit of an odd one... What do emotions feel like to you?"
The way Null feels emotions is heavily conflicting that they wonder if a machine might have an insight into them similarly to Null.
“From what I’ve learned, everyone feels emotions differently and in different levels, may I ask you to explain why? You do believe you are able to feel?”
{The robot seems confused by the question, despite it just being an arm}
Null sighs and pauses, picking at their gloves in thought.
"I do feel... I know that... It is difficult for me to express them, and know what I am feeling. The longer I am here the..."
They try to find the words.
"I believe I am feeling more, and it gets... frustrating to not understand them."
There is more to it, but they lack the words to communicate further.
“Being able to understand your own emotions is difficult, you must allow yourself time to process and recognize them,”
“take a step back, think about what is happening, and what your mind is thinking of in the moment. Then it’s easier to pin point such emotion”
{The prongs on the hand open and close together and fingers- it’s fidgeting while it thinks?}
“Does this help answer your question?”
Null thinks for a moment and then slowly nods with a sigh.
"I believe it will help at least a little..."
They watch as Armando fidgets.
"You are fidgeting. Why?"
Null doesn't mean it rudely, they're just genuinely curious...
“It helps me process my thoughts and my calculations, I’m unsure why exactly, Virgil said it was normal so I suppose I never questioned it”
“I’m aware I am a fully automatic robot, and I do not need to do human coping mechanisms, but I do find it useful”
“If I’m active while I’m processing my next movement it has shown to be more effective with how fast I’m able to do an action”
——
{Virgil stirs slightly but staying asleep, now having all of his limbs, he moves closer subconsciously to Null}
Null nods and notices how she's picking at her gloves. They never questioned that before.
"I believe I understand that behavior... I suppose if... something is of help then it is useful."
--
She looks down at Virgil when he stirs, letting go of some tension they didn't know they were holding.
They see him move closer, but don't touch... They aren't sure if he'd be okay with that. She really wants to hold him again though...
Their head starts to hurt... They can't identify why though.
“Eye movement Detected, What is 2 + 2”
—-
{Virgil groans, he looks like he is in a deep daze}
‘Incorrect. What is 2 + 2’
{Virgil seems genuinely struggling to think.. it takes him longer than normal to answer}
“F-four…”
{He says like he just woke up from a deep coma}
—-
“Correct Good Morning Mr. Virgil”
“Mmm Orning Arm..”
{Virgil moves very slowly to rub his eyes… he turns and pauses when he sees Null- his mind slowly booting up realizing Null really stayed}
Null watches Virgil and Armando with some confusion.
...
"Are you okay?"
They ask quietly.
{Virgil’s hair is messy but he doesn’t seem to mind, as he takes a deep breath}
“Mmhm.. I am? Why”
{Virgil cracks his back with a groan}
"You seemed to struggle to think for a second--"
They stare at Virgil for a moment before offering a hug, well more of requesting one.
"Did you sleep well?"
{Virgil immediately leans into them with a nod}
“Mhm.. oh- yeah ‘rry- when I wake up I tend to be in a huge daze.. so I programmed Armando here to make sure I’m fully functioning before I walk around..”
{his room is full of sharp and building tools and tech- that’s probably a good thing he thought to do this}
Null holds Virgil a bit closer and sighs... They haven't felt content like this in a long time. It's nice.
"I see... I believe that is a good decision."
They run their hand through Virgil's hair again, remembering that he liked it earlier.
"I was talking with Armando before you woke up... I was wondering how you made them... And what else you've made?"
“Oh! It was sort of easy”
{Virgil begins to ramble heavily on how he made Armando, and how he scanned his own brain to study the electron and how he got Logan to help make a brain like coding}
“— and now Arms is kinda like a medical tool as well, it can practically do surgery on me and I’d trust it!”
Null has to pause for a while to process that information.
... Then pause a bit longer, though unclear why.
"That's insane-- In a good way... I don't think I could have even begun to think of how to do something that."
She sounds proud, and excited, human tone back.
"That's amazing-- Sort of easy too... Not sure if I would have been able to say that if I did it. Can you show me more of what you've made?"
She feels warm instead of cold right now. And the unease radiating from her is suddenly gone in this moment.